New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-06-05
MIR. LECKTS NEW VOLUMES.
THE ERA OF REVOLUTION.

CENTURY. BY WILLIAM EDwAEp HARnoIr LEckY
Vols. V. and VI l2mo. PIP xvi, Coz; xvL. OIL
d. Appleton Co.
The new volumes of Mr. Leckys work yield to
none of their predecessors in variety of interest or
in breadth of treatment. The historian comforts
the largest questions in this portion Of his task, and
he addresses himself to them with more than his
former power of generalization and felicity IN
arranging details and enforcing their significance.
Whether In the most serious chapters he reaches
the rauk of true philosophical historian IS an
inquiry TO which readers of different WAYS OF think
ing will give different answers; but there will be
no dispute about the ample learning which he
brings to bear upon serious topics or the literary
aptitude with which he marshals his conclusions.
His style, admirable from its point and cearness,
is better than that of many of the sO-caed pictnr-
esque historians, iuasmuch as it is more natural
Certainly il lacks distinction but il Is remarkably
easy reading and il carries us on after Macaulay's
pomp and froude's fervor have tecome a little
fatiguing. and even the spendors Of Gibbon have
begun to pail. A remarkable array of attractive
topics calls forth its hes. qualities in the two vol
umes now before The character and admins
tration of Pitt the madness of George Ill; the
career of the Prince of Wales the characters of
the Emperor Joseph H., of the Empress Catherine
H., aud of the Swedish King, Gustavus Ill; the
origin and outbreak of the French Revolution tho
influence of that catastrophe upon English pol
tics the social, moral and industrial condition of
England and finally tie affairs of Ireland during
the first years of the legislative independence OF
that country, and the beginning of the disturb
ances which were soon to lead to the Act Of Union
these are the principal heads of the present install
ment of Mr. Lecky's work and upon none Of them
would 1t be possible for Mr.. Lecky to be dull.
The chapters on the French Revolution aud on
Irish affairs are likely to arouse the most debate
With respect TO the first, most readers will agree
that our author has. described some Of the chief
causes of the revolution with remarkable force and
acuteness and yet that he has not quite succeeded
in connecting these causes with their tremendous
consequence. lie makes an elaborate and brilliant
examination Of the literary antecedents of the rev
oluton, especially OF the writings Of Voltiare and
Rousseau. the essential differences between them
being very clearly Disseminated He shows now
strong was the anti Christian tendency of the entire
French literary movement and although it is mn
doubtedly oyer-statement to say that the French
intellect was wholly alienated from Christianity.
his description Of the widespread hostility to doc
| trnal and practical religion is not too strong.
| What faith and piety remained were sluggish and
thou ghtess Other causes besides the influence of
the literary philosophers were destroying the sense
of religious obligation in France and to some of
these Mr Lecky gives due attention. The unfaith-
/
The historian says something of the character Of
the higher clergy. but he might well have said
more and a searching examination would perhaps
have satisfied him that the Gallcan movement,
upou which nearly all English historians are in
clined to look with favor account of its super
fcai resemblance to their homo theory of n
national church. had been ever since the days of
Henry ". s3urce OF ecclesiastical abuses. Not
much could be expected Of church whose ministers
were made the creatures and slaves OF q desD0tic
| and vicious court. The demand for Gallican liber-
ties tended to this result and other. whatever
was taken from the authority of the Pope was
added two-fod to the authority Of tbs King and his
mistresses.
Mr.. Lecky describes fully the contests between
the King and the Pariaments. and the terrible con-
dition of the taxes and the finances. to which
causes more than to the literary Its upon
copied standards of morality moro even than the
popularity Of the democratic theories of Rousseau
he ascribes the 6nal outbreak. The following con-
cluson. however, ID Disappointing
To me at least it appears, from the facts that
have been related IN this chapter, that the French
Revolution, though undoubtedly prepared by
causes which had been in operation for centuries
might. till within very few years OF the catas-
trophe havebeen with no great difficulty averted
A profound change In the character OF the gov
ernmont and institutions OF France had indeed be-
come inevitable but such change need not have
been o revolution, and if 1t mad been effected as
very similar changes have been effected in other
countries, without the subversion Of the monarchy
and total disorganzation Of the State, its IT, flu
ence 10th on French and European history would
} have been Who'll y different In spite of the wars
and debts of Lewis XIV, In spite Of the wees and
incapacty of the Regency and of Lewis XIV, in
sion Of ancient opinions the position Of the French
monarchy on the accession OF Lewis XVI. was far